Electric switch



F. G. VON HOORN ELECTRIC SWITCH July 15, 1930.

Original Filed. May 10 1922 fig-1.

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' overload device, overlead is .pre moved to close Reissued July 15, 1930 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE OF BBI-DGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC SWITCH Original No.

1,552,711, dated April 27; 1926, Serial No. 559,708, filed May 10, 1922. Application to:

reissue filed April 26, 1928. Serial No. 273,119.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to operating mechanisms therefor.

One of the objects of my invention 1s the provision of manually operable means for closing a switch that isprovided wlthan in such manner that, if an cut at the time the switch is position, the switch may be automatically released regardless ofthe position of the manually operable member.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby an actuating member for closing the switch is set in motionand then automatically freed from a manual operating member therefor, so that it may move to actuate the switch independently'of the manually operable member.

Still another ob]ect of my lnventlon 15 to the operasimplify and improve generally tion' and construction of electric switches.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, tion and partially in section, of a embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1,'

switch Fig. 3 is a new, partially in plan and par- 'tially in section, of a portion of the apparatus of:Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a-plan view of still another portion of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner-in which the switch of Fig.- 1 is connected in a circuit The switch is mounted in a box 6 that is provided with a cover .7 A baseS is-pro- A vided'to support a pair of stationary contact members 9 and a pairof movable contact members 10, the movable contact members being supported, through a'plate 11 and a movable contact carrier 12 that is pivotally mounted at 13, upon a bracket 14 which is secured to the base 8. A spring 16 normally biases the movable switch parts in a clock wise direction. A bracket 17 that is secured to .the base, pivotally supports a latch 18 that is biased about its'pivot in a'clockwise direction by a spring 19 and serves, through its engagement ,with the carrier 12.

partially in side eleva taken on the line IIII to hold the movable contact members in closed position against the tension of the spring 16.

A push button 20 is provided for manually tripping the latch 18 free of the contact carrier 12. A. leaf spring 21 serves to normally hold the push button 20 in'its retracted position. 1

.The bracket 17 also serves as a support for a shaft 22 that is surrounded with fusible material or solder 23. The solder 23 serves to normally" hold a tripping member 24 against turning movement under the action of a spring 26 that has its opposite ends secured to the member 24 and the carrier 12, respectlvely. The shaft'22 is of resistance material and in series with a circuit 28 that is controlled by the switch. Upon the occurrence of an overload in the circuit 28, the fuslble material 23 is softened, thuspermittmg the tripping member 24 to turn in a clockwise direction, by reason of the tension-exerted thereupon by bthe spring 26. e mem er 24 causes it- This movement of t to move the latch 18 against the tension of the spring, 19 to trip'it free of thecarrier counterclockwise direction until it.again-occupies the position illustrated in Fig. --1 and leavesit ready for another automatic opera- I 1310B, should an overload occur.

Thefeatures thus far described do not constltute essential arts of the present inven-' tion, but are set orth in order that the functional diaracteristics of my improvement 1 'maiy be clearly understood,

order to manually close the switch, I i

provide the ush-button 31 that is squared at' its inner en to abut against a bracket 32 and thus be held against rotative movement.

The bracket 32 is secured to the base 8 and is provided with a pin 33 rigidly secured thereto. An actuating member or plunger 34v switch when maving in one direction under the force of the tension device, a manually operable member for moving the actuating member against the tension device and means for disengaging the manually operable member from the actuating member at a predetermined positionl 9. The combination with an electric switch, of a reciprocable actuating member therefor provided with a tension'device, means carried by the actuating member for closing the switch when moving in one direction under the force of the tension device, a manuallyoperable member normally in operative engagement with the actuating member for moving it against the tension device, means for disengaging the manually operable member from the actuating member at a predetermined position and means for returning the said manual member to its normal position after it has been released.

10. In combination, a movable switch mem ber, a manually operable member, an actuat ing member operable by the manually operable member in one direction independently of the switch and movable in the opposite direction-independently of the manually operable member for actuating the switch during scribed my name this21'st day of April, 1928.

its return movement. 1

11. In combination, a movable switch member, a manually operable member, an actuating member operable by the manually opcrab] e member in one direction independently of the switch and automaticallymovable in the opposite direction independently of the manuall operable member for actuating the switch uring its return movement after the manually operable member has been moved a predetermined distance.

12. The combination with an automatically opened movable switch member, of a manually operated reclosing member therefor having a relatively movable switch actuating member adapted to move the switch to closed position independently of the manually operated member when the latter has moved a predetermined distance. 13. In a switch, the combination of a manually actuated means closing the switch, a

member movable in response to current in the circuit controlled by the switch, a manually actuated mechanism operable independently of the said member for opening the switch, and devices controlled by the mem-' ber for preventing the maintenance of a closed a switch during an excess of current, said means being operative to close the. switch with the same manual action following the opening of the switch by either the mechanism or the devices.

14; In a switch, the combination of a manually actuated means closing the switch, a member movable in response to current in the circuit controlled by the switch, a manually actuated. mechanism operable independently of the said member for opening the switch and means controlled by the member 'for preventing the maintenance of a closed switch during an excess of current.

15. In a switch, the combination of a manually actuated means for closing the switch and permitting opening movement of 'ally actuated mechanism voperable independently of the said member for opening the switch and means controlled by the member to open the switch on an excess of current notwithstanding the manual closing means be actuated to ,reset the switch to the closed.

position. b

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- FRED G. VON HOORN. 

